It’s always frustrating when work and other bits get in the way of watching cricket, but that’s where we are currently. Due to a rather nasty sickness bug, I only managed to watch the first half hour of the match and haven’t seen the highlights yet and no doubt the other editors are in similar positions.
241-4 at the end of a full days play is a very unusual score for this England side, we’re more used to them either scoring at 4 runs an over or being blown away for under a 100, but from the sounds of it, the English batting unit used their nouse on a good, but slow pitch. Whether this is the sign of things to come I’m not too sure, but as someone who loves Test Match cricket, then I have no problems with the top order being slightly attritional and taking the shine off the ball whilst putting miles into the bowlers legs. This used to be the hallmark of Test Match batting after all.
The key question is whether they can now go on and make some big runs on Day 2 to put some real pressure on the New Zealand batting line up. Stokes looks like he has continued his rich vein of form with the bat, despite offering a couple of chances late on to a tiring Kiwi fielding unit, whilst Pope is there alongside him hoping he can make a statement about his role in the England Test side for the foreseeable future.
If England survive the first hour relatively unscathed then 450 should be a minimum, though from past experience, this can be a very big if with this England team.
As ever, please leave any thoughts and comments on the day’s play below:
Being Outside Cricket 
Cheers Sean. Had the new boiler installed and have a family visitor arriving tomorrow so it has been utter mayhem today.
I watched the first hour and just thought that Sibley looked a little short of test class. Yes, one innings. Yes one innings. But he didn’t look right. But as I said the other night, it is in the head, and maybe there’s something there. Ollie Pope, who is taking county cricket by storm, looks nailed on to be trapped in front most balls as he rambles across the wicket (and yes Athers, he looks like Ian Bell). Stokes looks imperious, Denly looks ever more as growing into the game, but isn’t the sort of player who would be in a world dominating XI.
But it’s lovely to watch test cricket on these dark nights, isn’t it?
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Shocking shot from Pope there..
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I also haven’t seen any cricket, but that is my own decision because I no longer subscribe to Sky. It’s unfortunate, and it marks the first time since the early 1990s I can’t see Test cricket abroad but it has to be done.
It’s an amazing achievement for a governing body of a major sport to be so unpleasant and have such a hatred for its own supporters that it has succeeded in driving away someone who used to love the sport they are supposed to be custodians of. But I won’t give these scum bags a penny more. Running the game into the sand should not be rewarded.
As it’s only two test matches it’s not really a big deal seeing as they prefer the hit and giggle anayway. I have been passing my time away enjoying reading about the Aussies latest attempts to turn themselves into Quakers with the recent do gooding appologies from Steve Smith for bad behaviour in questioning an umpires decsion. These “values” seminars laid on by their coach must be a blast.
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Is Archer really a #9?
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I don’t think he should be batting above Leach.
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The complete list of people who I think should be batting above Leach:
End of list.
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Lordy. That cry baby Naseem Shah has just had his first bowl in test cricket and pretty much hits 150kph. Bloody hell.
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A hundred for Warner. Is any one surprised?
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That he is playing. Could not even average 10 in England, despite making a 50 in the Ashes.
Australia to win by 18 wickets or so (effectively)? Just goes to show how great Test cricket is at the moment. That it struggles with a television channel displaying paint dry in terms of excitement.
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I thought he’d get a lot of runs once he got home to flat wickets and facing an inexperienced attack. Hopefully Australia v New Zealand will be more of a contest.
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Meanwhile in India, Bangladesh won another toss, only to let themselves be bowled out for 106. Seriously, 90% of the Tests these days are an utter waste of time.
Thanks to the ICC for doing and having done everything in its power to arrive and defend the current state of affairs.
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